Laurent Ponsot Cuvée de la Violette
LAURENT PONSOT Cuvée de la Violette, Chambolle-Musigny
Laurent Ponsot Cuvée de l'Aulne
Cuvée de lAulne Gevrey-Chambertin A blend of grapes purchased from seven or eight growers, across 10 to 12 different communal parcels smattered throughout the village. Again, this is the approach that Ponsot advocates in order to glean the essence of the regional terroir, in this case that of a single lauded village. Red and dark fruit essences mesh with the smoked meat parlayed by Gevreys heavier, ferrous limestone. A richer wine in the context of Burgundy, without the edges and creases that need too much smoothing with time in the cellar. Accessible across the earlier to mid-term.
Felton Road Calvert Pinot Noir
As often happens with Calvert, the nose when young is slightly muted and more direct than exotic; pure and fine aromas, not bold and lush. The palate follows on accordingly, with clarity of fruit, roses and florals. Focussed, concentrated yet pure in the mid-palate, with its hallmark mineral texture, its firm but ultimately juicy on the finish. The vines are growing up and were seeing the puppy-fat turn to muscle.
Domaine Mongeard-Mugneret
This village Vosne-Romanée shows all the typicity expected of its commune with beautiful ripe cherry strawberry perfume, lovely weight and mouth-feel and abundant fine discrete tannins. Matured in 30% to 40% new French oak barrels, it has the concentration and structure to cellar gracefully for many years.